Leveling bridge



K. J. UNWIN LEVELING BRIDGE Feb. 7 1950 Filed June 28, 1946 INVENTOR.

fag/ flwam WM Mw #2% Patented Feb. 7, u1950 UNITED STATESNPATENT OFFICELEVELING BRIDGE Kenneth J. Unwin, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to QuakerFoundation, Inc., Kenosha, Wis., a oorporation of Wisconsin Application'June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,185

(Cl. l15--24) 9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements instretching frames and more particularly to improvements in stretchingframes adapted for use in drying curtains and other fabrics.

In general, the invention contemplates the provision of a stretchingframe which includes angularly disposed post and rail members whichoverlie one another and are relatively adjustable. At least one cornervis formedl by a post and rail member and a levelingbridge or pin` plateis employed at such corner in order to provide a gradual sloping surfaceto which the fabric is secured in the transfer area' betweenv theoverlying post and rail members. In this type of stretching frame, theleveling bridge usually carries some type of clamping member engageablewith the post or the rail, while thev bridge itself is engageable withthe other post or rail member. Thus, the clamping element and theleveling bridge serve to secure the post and rail members in anypredetermined adjusted position. Heretofore, some diiiiculty has beenencountered, particularly in assembling the frame, due to relativeLturning and uncontrolled movement between the clamping element and thebridge.

An object of the' present invention is to facilitate assembly,disassemblyand adjustment of the post and rail members by maintainingthe clamping element and the leveling bridge in relatively xedrpositions of predetermined alignment so as to prevent relative cantingor tilting therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of` theabove type wherein limited relative movement between the clampingelement and the leveling bridge toward and away from one another. ispermitted in order to facilitate adjustment or assembly of the frame,but relative turning between the leveling bridge and clamping element isprevented.

The invention still further aims to provide, in an assembly of the abovetype, a leveling bridge and clamping means w-hiclrare relatively simpleFigure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Fig-ure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the details of theclamping means; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, a vertical post I0is provided along one side thereof withl a raised rib portion Illa andalong the adjacent side with a reduced portion IIib. A rail II issimilarly constructed with a rib portion IIa along the lower edgethereof, and with a reduced portion I'Ib along the upper edge thereof.The post and rail members overlie one another and are disposed injuxtaposition at substantially right angles to one another, althoughthis is not essential, as the shape of the fabric will determine ltheangular disposition thereof. The reduced portions IIlb, IIb have securedthereto pins I2, I3, respectively which serve as means for securing thecurtain or other fabric to be stretched and dried.

A levelingbridge or pin plate I4 is provided with a lower clampingportion I5 which engages the face of the rib portion IIa of the rail II,and is provided with inturned lugs I6 disposed immediately beneath andengaging the bottom edge of the rail. TheA upper portion of the levelingbridge, namely, the portion disposed above the rail I I, is graduallyinclined downwardly toward and into contact with the face of the ribportion Ia on the post I il. The upper end of this inclined portion isprovided with inner and outer lugs I'I, I8, respectively, which engageopposite edges of the rib portion Illa and thus serve as guides duringadjustment of the frame. A depressed outwardly extending flange portionI9 is provided along the inclined portion of the leveling'- bridge andisl similarly inclined, and this ange portion has pins or small nails 20carried thereby for securing the curtain or other fabric along thisinclined transfer area between the overlying rail and post members.

A clamping element 2l in the form of a substantially C-snaned bracket isprovided with inturned nanges 22 at the free ends of the leg portionsthereof. The closed end or strap portion of the clamping element isprovided with an opening '23 through which extends a headed bolt 2d, theouter free end of which extends through a corresponding aperture in theleveling bridge and has threaded engagement with a wing nut 25. Abracketmember 26 is suitably secured, as by spot welding, across theinner surface of the levelingV bridge IIII immediately above the railmember II and is provided with leg portions 21, 28, which extendinwardly toward the clamping element 2l. The leg portion 2l' of thebracket is provided with a reduced tongue 21a which is adapted to extendinto an opening 29 through the closed end of the clamping element 2l.The leg portion 28 of the bracket is also provided with an elongatedtongue portion 3l] which is slightly bent inwardly, as shown in Figures3 and 4, to engage within a slot 3l in the corresponding leg portion ofthe clamping element 2 I. A coil spring 32 is disposed between theadjacent surfaces of the bracket member 26 and the clamping element 2land operates to normally urge the same apart.

In operation and use, it will be seen that when the wing nut 25 istightened relative to the bolt 24, the lower clamping portion I5 of theleveling bridge It will he urged inwardly into tight engagement with therib portion II a of the rail I I and, likewise, the clamping element 2lwill be urged in an opposite direction so that the anges 22 thereof willtightly engage the rear face of the post I (I, thus tightly securing thepost, rail and leveling bridge in any selected adjusted position. Whenit is desired to adjust or disassemble the stretching frame, the wingnut 25 is loosened and the spring 32 will tend to separate the clampingelement 2I and the bracket member 26 which is carried by the levelingbridge I4. The engagement between the tongues 21a, 30 and the opening`2&3 and slot 3l will permit this relative sliding movement but it willalso be seen that the same interengaging parts will prevent relativeturning between the clamping element 2| and the leveling bridge I iabout the axis of the bolt 24. The inturned tongue Sil, operating in theslot SI and in conjunction with the bolt 24, will maintain the positionof the parts even if the tongue 21a is retracted from the opening 29.Thus, even when the stretching frame is disassembled, the relativeposition between the clamping element 2l and the leveling bridge I4 ismaintained and this construction greatly facilitates its use byinexperienced persons in assembling, adjusting, or disassembling theframe. In other words, the clamping element ZI is maintained in 4a planewhich is substantially normal to the plane of the clamping portion I5 ofthe bridge and which is iixed with respect to any plane through thebridge, although limited relative sliding movement between the bridgeand the clamping element is permitted by reason of the tongue and slotconnection with the bracket. The relative position between the head24o', of the bolt 24 and the wing nut 25 will determine the extent ofcompression of the spring 32 intending to maintain the parts in spacedrelation. Thus, the bolt 24 also aids in maintaining the position of thebridge and C-clamp but relative rotation of those parts about the boltaxis is prevented.

' While one form oi the invention has been shown and described forpurposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that variouschanges in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a stretching frame having crossed and relatively overlying postand rail members, a levcling bridge disposed at the intersection betweensaid members, a clamping element adapted to engage one of said members,a bracket extending transversely of and carried by said leveling bridge'and having spaced tongue portions adapted to engage correspondinglyspaced apertures in said clamping element to prevent tilting thereofwith respect to said bridge but permitting limited relative inward andoutward sliding movement therebetween, and means engaging said clampingelement and said bridge for effecting clamping action thereof againstsaid post and rail members.

2. In a stretching frame having crossed and.

'relatively overlying post and rail members, a leveling bridge disposedat the intersection between said members and contacting the same, aclamping element adapted to engage one of said members, a bolt and nutconnection between said clamping element and said bridge for effectingclamping of the said post and rail members therebetween, and meansincluding intertting and spaced tongue and aperture connections betweensaid bridge and said clamping element for preventingrelative turningthereof about the bolt axis.

3. In a stretching frame having crossed and relatively overlying postand rail members, a leveling bridge disposed at the intersection betweensaid members and contacting the same, a clamping element adapted toengage one of said members, a bolt and nut connection between saidclamping element and said bridge for eiecting clamping of the said postand rail members therebetween, a pair of spaced tongues extendinginwardly from said bridge, said clamping element having similarly spacedapertures adapted to receive said tongues whereby to prevent relativeturning between the bridge and the clamping element while permittingrelative movement thereof along the bolt axis, and spring means normallymaintaining the bridge and clamping element in spaced relation.

4. In a stretching frame having crossed and relatively overlying postand rail members, a leveling bridge disposed at the intersection betweensaid members and contacting the same, a `C -clamp engageable with one ofsaid members and having an aperture through the closed end thereof and aslot through one side portion thereof, a headed bolt passing throughsaid "C-clamp and said bridge with the bolt head engaging the C-clamp, anut threadedly engaging the free end of said bolt and adapted to contactsaid bridge for effecting clamping of the said post and rail members,and a bracket carried by said bridge and having tongues fitting withinsaid aperture and slot for maintaining alignment of said bridge and saidC-clamp.

5. In a stretching frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tongueextending into said slot is directed inwardly to assure properengagement with said C-clamp.

6. In a stretching frame as claimed in claim 4, the provision of a coilspring disposed around said bolt and between said bridge and said C-clamp for maintaining the same in proper spaced relation.

7. A leveling bridge assembly adapted for use between the post and railmembers of a fabric stretching frame and comprising a body portionhaving rail and post engaging portions and an inclined portion to whichthe fabric is secured, a clamping member adapted for'engagement with oneof said members, a bolt and nut connection between the clamping portionof said bridge and said clamping element, spring means maintaining thebridge and clamping element in spaced relation, and a pair of armscarried by said bridge and extending `tow-ard said clamping element andAhaving reduced end portions adapted to t within similarly spacedapertures in said clamping element whereby to maintain relativealignment of the bridge and clamping element while permitting relativemovement toward and away from one another.

8. In a stretching frame having crossed and relatively overlying postand rail members, a leveling bridge disposed at the intersection betweensaid members and contacting the same, a clamping element having a strapportion and a flanged leg portion engageable with one of said membersand being provided with an aperture through said strap portion and aslot extending longitudinally of said leg portion, a bolt and nutconnection between the strap portion of said clamping element and saidbridge for eiecting clamping of the said post and rail members, and apair of tongues extending inwardly from said bridge with one of saidtongues fitting Within said aperture and the other of said tonguesiitting within said slot for maintaining alignment of said bridge andsaid clamping element.

9. In a stretching frame as claimed in claim 8` wherein a bracket iscarried by said bridge and is provided with a pair of inwardly extendingtongues of different lengths, the shorter tongue tting Within saidaperture and the longer tongue tting within said slot for maintainingalignment of said bridge and said clamping element.

KENNETH J. UNWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile ofthis patent.:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,410,964 Spero Mar. 28, 19222,217,004 Carlson Oct. 8, 1940 2,236,745 Block Apr. 1, 1941

